Footwear with removable closure

ABSTRACT

Footwear such as a shoe has a closure which includes a strap. The strap is releasably and removably secured at the toe of the upper and extends across an access opening down the access of the shoe and can be releasably and removably fastened to the upper adjacent to the ankle end by VELCRO™ secured between the strap and the upper. Other engagement devices can be used in place of VELCRO.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to footwear. It is concerned moreparticularly with a footwear having an improved closure.

The disclosure relates to athletic shoes and other shoes and boots.Typically, a shoe has a lace-type closure. While this form of closureworks well in practice, some inconvenience is associated with themanipulation of the closure. For improved fit lacing is one form ofadjustable tightening. When the shoe is put on, the laces must betightened all along the eye stays if a proper fit is to be achieved.Velcro tightening footwear over the mouth of the shoe is also known. Oneside of the tightening Velcro strap is removably affixed to the shoe

The object of the present disclosure is to provide a footwear having animproved closure.

SUMMARY

The footwear includes a sole and an upper which defines a space abovethe sole for receiving a wearer's foot. The upper includes an ankleopening and an access opening which extends from the ankle openingtowards the toe area of the shoe. This permits portions of the upperadjacent the access opening to facilitate movement of the wearer's footinto and from the space. A closure is provided for the access opening.The closure comprises a strap having a first portion and a secondportion both portions being removably and releasably located with theaccess opening. The strap extends across the opening and is located withthe upper.

DRAWINGS

In order that the disclosure may be more clearly understood, referencewill now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferredembodiments of the disclosure by way of example, and wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a running shoe constructed inaccordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure, the shoe beingshown in FIG. 1 with its closure in the open position and in FIG. 2 withthe closure in the closed position;

FIGS. 3A to 3D are different views of the strap closure of oneembodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 4A to 4E are different views of the strap closure of anotherembodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 5A to 5E are different views of the strap closure of anotherembodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Footwear comprises a sole; an upper which defines a space above the solefor receiving a wearer's foot. The upper includes an ankle opening andan access opening which extends from the ankle opening towards the toearea. The upper adjacent the access opening permits movement of awearer's foot into and from the space.

A closure for the access opening comprises only a single flexible straphaving a first portion releasably and removably secured to the upperadjacent a first side of the access opening. The strap across theopening has a second portion releasably and removably secured to theupper adjacent the access opening. The first and second portions areremoved from each other, and the strap extending across the access fromthe one side of the access to the other side of the access.

In another form the footwear has a closure for the access openingcomprises a flexible strap having a first portion releasably andremovably secured to the upper adjacent a first side of the accessopening. The strap across the opening has a second portion releasablyand removably secured to the upper adjacent the access opening. Thefirst and second portions are removed from each other, and the strapextending across the access from the one side of the access to the otherside of the access. The strap across the opening is releasably andremovably secured to the upper adjacent the access opening ankle portionof the access opening.

In yet another form the footwear has a closure for the access openingcomprises only a single flexible strap having a first portion releasablyand removably secured to the upper adjacent a first side of the accessopening. The strap across the opening has a second portion releasablyand removably secured to the upper adjacent the access opening. Thefirst and second portions are removed from each other, and the strapextending across the access from the one side of the access to the otherside of the access. The access has eyelets affixed permanently to theupper to either side of the access opening and the strap is forthreading through the eyelets on both sides of the access.

The strap can be threaded through eyelets in the upper adjacent thefirst side of the access opening and through eyelets in the upperadjacent the second side of the access opening.

The strap can include co-operable fastening elements on at least oneportion for engaging with an opposed surface portion of the strap andthe upper. The elements are of a first type on one of the surfaceportions and of a second type on the other surface portion. The elementtypes are for interengaging with one another for securing the strap tothe upper and to be separated by pulling apart the strap member and theupper when the closure is to be opened. The fastening elements aredistributed over surface portions so as to permit the strap to bepositioned in any of a plurality of fastening positions.

The strap can be threaded through eyelets in the upper adjacent thefirst side of the access opening and through eyelets in the upperadjacent the second side of the access opening. As such the strap inposition across the access forms a zig-zag formation from the toe areato the ankle area.

In one form the strap is threaded through eyelets in the upper adjacentthe first side of the access opening and through eyelets in the upperadjacent the second side of the access opening, and including a buckleor threaded formation to engage with an eyelet on one of the sides ofthe access.

In another form there can be several separate straps threaded througheyelets in the upper adjacent the first side of the access opening andthrough eyelets in the upper adjacent the second side of the accessopening, and an engagement with an eyelet on one of the sides of theaccess.

With reference to the Figures, a running shoe 20 has a sole 22 and anupper 24 which defines a space above the sole for receiving a wearer'sfoot. The upper has an ankle opening 26 and an access opening generallydenoted 28 which extends from the ankle opening 26 towards the toe areaof the running shoe. The access opening 28 permits portions of the upperadjacent the opening to be raised or partly folded back to facilitatemovement of wearer's foot into and from the space defined by the upper.A tongue 30 is provided below the access opening and a closure isprovided for the opening.

The shoe is essentially of conventional construction. The upper includesrespective side portions 32 and 34 which extend rearwardly and join aheel portion or “quarter” 36. Padding 38 is provided around the ankleopening 26. The side portions 32 and 34 are shaped to define elongateareas which extend along both sides of the access opening 28 and whichare denoted by reference numerals 40 and 42. These areas would form thearea for the eye stays or lacing strips or straps of the shoe.

Areas 40 and 42 are provided with eyelets apertures. Fastening elementsforming part of the closure for the shoe can be provided on either orboth of the side areas 40 and 42.

Adjacent the forward toe end, the side portions 32 and 34 are stitchedto a toe cap portion 44 and to a vamp portion 46 above the toe capportion. Tongue 30 is stitched to and extends upwardly and rearwardlyfrom vamp 46.

The shoe closure includes strap generally indicated by reference numeral48 secured to the upper 24 adjacent the sides of the access opening 28.The strap extends across access opening 28 and is releasable andremovable at both the distal end portion of the strap to the upperadjacent the opposite side of opening 28 as represented by the upperarea 40, for securing the footwear about the foot of a wearer.

Openings 56 in eye stay 42 are arranged in positions on either side ofthe access opening. When the access opening is in the closed position,the lace or strap 48 extends across the access of the shoe.

The respective fabrics are generally denoted by reference numerals 58and 59. VELCRO fabrics comprise a first fabric having a surface coveredwith fine forming a nap on the fabric and a second fabric having asurface covered with fine hooks which engage with the fibres forsecuring the fabrics together. These fabrics are generally denoted bythe reference numerals 58 and 59 respectively. The positions of therespective fabrics could be reversed with fabric 58 on strap 48 andfabric 59 on the upper. The fibres of fabric 58 define fasteningelements which interengage with the corresponding fastening elements offabric 59 (the hooks) for securing the strap in position. The strap canbe detatched from the upper by pulling upwardly on the strap so that thehooks and fibres of the respective fabrics pull apart, allowing thepanel to be raised to open the shoe closure. The fastening elements(fibres and hooks) of the VELCRO™ fabrics effectively cover the surfacesof the respective fabrics so that strap 48 can be positioned in any of aplurality of fastening positions wherein the strap of the closureembraces the foot of the wearer to a lesser or a greater extent. Thisallows the strap to be adjusted to provide for optimum comfort andsecurity of fit.

There are shown in FIGS. 3A through 3D the details of one embodiment ofthe disclosure. The structure 60 around the access includes eyelet 62 onthe one side of the access 64 and an eyelet 66 and another eyelet 68 onthe other side of the axis 64. The strap 70 has a first end 72 and asecond end 74 at opposite ends from each other. The strap 72 forms azigzag shape when it is directed from eyelet 66 to eyelet 62 and in turnto eyelet 68. The end 72 is form so that it has a loop 74 over theopening eyelet 66. A buckle-like element 76 is in place through whichthe strap length 78 is looped so that the strap is securely anchored tothe eyelet 66. When the length of the strap 78 is unlooped through thebuckle 76, it can be removed from the eyelet 66. In this form, the end72 of the strap 70 is releasably removable from the axis at its one end.The opposite end 74 includes an anchoring feature which can be a Velcroelement for securing adjacent to the structure 60 and near the upper atthe anchor axis to the shoe.

In a second embodiment of the disclosure there is shown in FIGS. 4Athrough 4D a different configuration. The structure 80 surrounds theaccess 82 and there is an eyelet 84 on the one side of the access 82 andeyelets 86 and 88 on the opposite side of the structure. There is astrap 90 which is for crisscrossing in some fashion the access 82. Theend 92 of the strap includes a buckle 94 which has a dependent part 96which can appropriately be ornamented. The end 92 is looped around thecross bar 98 and is stitched 100 to an under-portion of the strap 90.When located on the surround 80, the buckle 96 extends above the eyelet84 in an ornamental way.

The looping of the strap 90 is such that it would start eyelet 84,extend to eyelet 86, return to eyelet 84, crisscross to eyelet 88 andthen extend to the second free end 102. The free end 102 would engagethe upper or the top area around the axis of the shoe.

In yet a different form of the disclosure, there are configurationsillustrated in FIGS. 5A through 5E. The surround 110 over the accessarea 112 has eyelets 114 and 116 on one side of the axis. There are twostraps, respectively, 118 and 120 which are provided for traversing theaccess 112. At the ends 122 and 124, respectively, of the straps 118 and120, there is a thickened portion 126 and 128, respectively.

There can be an insert 130 inside the thickened portion which is formedby a fold-over which is in turn stitched at 132 with the lengths of thestrap. The inside of the relevant straps can have a VELCRO formations134 for engagement with mating VELCRO formations on the opposite side ofthe access, namely on the surround 110 over that part of the upper towhich the surround 110 is formed. In this fashion, each of the strapswould traverse the access 112 in a relatively transverse linear manner.

In other cases, there can be one or more eyelets on the side 110 and adifferent kind of strapping configuration can be achieved. There are inyet other forms of the disclosure the thins of any one of theconfigurations, for instance those shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, 4A to 4D, 5Ato 5E could have VELCRO on both ends such that instead of the eyeletformation that the end near the ankle part of the access there could bea VELCRO engagement with the surround about the access or the upper ofthat area. In this manner, the straps are releasable and removable fromthe footwear at both ends.

It will of course be appreciated that the preceding description relatesto specific embodiments of the disclosure only and that manymodifications are possible within the broad scope of the disclosure.

The fastening strap may also be changed. Instead of VELCRO™ fabricsthere are other equivalent fabrics may be used.

Press stud fasteners could be employed. As such, the fastening elementsmay comprise male and female elements of a “press stud” type offastener.

Although the preceding description refers primarily to shoes and runningshoes the disclosure is not restricted to shoes of this type.

1. Footwear comprising a sole; an upper which defines a space above thesole for receiving a wearer's foot, the upper including an ankle openingand an access opening which extends from the ankle opening towards thetoe area, the upper adjacent the access opening permitting movement of awearer's foot into and from the space; and a closure for the accessopening, the closure comprising only a single flexible strap having afirst portion releasably and removably secured to the upper adjacent afirst side of the access opening, the strap being directed across theopening and having a second portion releasably and removably secured tothe upper adjacent the access opening, the first and second portionsbeing removed from each other, and the strap extending across the accessfrom the one side of the access to the other side of the access. 2.Footwear comprising a sole; an upper which defines a space above thesole for receiving a wearer's foot, the upper including an ankle openingand an access opening which extends from the ankle opening towards thetoe area, the upper adjacent the access opening permitting movement of awearer's foot into and from the space; and a closure for the accessopening, the closure comprising a flexible strap having a first portionreleasably and removably secured to the upper adjacent a first side ofthe access opening toward the toe portion of the access, the strap beingdirected across the opening and having a second portion releasably andremovably secured to the upper adjacent the access opening ankle portionof the access opening, the first and second portions being removed fromeach other, and the strap extending across the access from the one sideof the access to the other side of the access.
 3. Footwear comprising asole; an upper which defines a space above the sole for receiving awearer's foot, the upper including an ankle opening and an accessopening which extends from the ankle opening towards the toe area, theupper adjacent the access opening permitting movement of a wearer's footinto and from the space; and a closure for the access opening, theclosure comprising a single flexible strap having a first portionreleasably and removably secured to the upper adjacent a first side ofthe access opening toward the toe portion of the access, the strap beingdirected across the opening and having a second portion releasably andremovably secured to the upper adjacent the access opening ankle portionof the access opening, the first and second portions being removed fromeach other, the strap extending across the access from the one side ofthe access to the other side of the access, and the access havingeyelets affixed permanently to the upper to either side of the accessopening and the strap being for threading through the eyelets on bothsides of the access.
 4. Footwear as claimed in either claim 1 or 2wherein the strap is threaded through eyelets in the upper adjacent thefirst side of the access opening and through eyelets in the upperadjacent the second side of the access opening.
 5. Footwear as claimedin either claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the strap includes co-operablefastening elements on at least one portion for engaging with an opposedsurface portion of the strap and the upper, the elements being of afirst type on one of the surface portions and of a second type on theother surface portion, the element types being for interengaging withone another for securing the strap to the upper and to be separated bypulling apart the strap member and the upper when the closure is to beopened, the fastening elements being distributed over surface portionsso as to permit the strap to be positioned in any of a plurality offastening positions.
 6. Footwear as claimed in either claim 1, 2 or 3wherein the strap is threaded through eyelets in the upper adjacent thefirst side of the access opening and through eyelets in the upperadjacent the second side of the access opening, and is such that thestrap in position across the access forms a zig-zag formation from thetoe area to the ankle area.
 7. Footwear as claimed in either claim 1, 2or 3 wherein the strap is threaded through eyelets in the upper adjacentthe first side of the access opening and through eyelets in the upperadjacent the second side of the access opening, and including a buckleor threaded formation to engage with an eyelet on one of the sides ofthe access.
 8. Footwear as claimed in either claim 2 or 3 wherein thereare several separate straps threaded through eyelets in the upperadjacent the first side of the access opening and through eyelets in theupper adjacent the second side of the access opening, and including anengagement with an eyelet on one of the sides of the access.